via memeorandumForeign Ministry opens Sderot bureau / Neta Sela
The group will be taken to view Sderot and Israel’s ‘narrow waistline’ by helicopter in an effort to convey the true meaning of a return to the borders of June 4th 1967. The guests are also scheduled to visit with the top negotiator for the Palestinian Authority, Saeb Erekat and may also meet Prime Minister Ehud Olmert or Foreign Affairs Minister Tzipi Livni.”We are looking forward to an informative and educational trip,” said National Jewish Democratic Council (NJDC) Executive Director Ira Forman, director of research for the Solomon Project Research.
“It is important that progressive bloggers and leaders of progressive organizations learn first-hand about the current situation in Israel. We also want to provide them with an eye-opening experience that will help them better understand the complexity of the Arab-Israeli conflict.
Among those participating in the tour are Daily Kos editor David Waldman and former Moveon.org lobbyist Tom Matzzie, who currently heads the anti-war ‘Campaign to Defend America.’
LGF doesn’t hold out much hope:
And wouldn’t it be wonderful if unicorns from space cured the common cold?
I checked out the link to the Daily KOS editor, David Waldman (or Kagro X) and he didn’t seem to address Israel at all. Maybe he was chosen because he hasn’t displayed any antipathy towards Israel.
The Moderate Voice.Jill Miller Zimon writes:
I haven’t written much about this, but I will be traveling to Israel for two weeks later this year. What saddens me is that the government of Israel thinks that a visit to Israel might be able to accomplish what none of us who have tried to be reasonable on sites such as Daily Kos about Israel have been able to accomplish.
That assumes that the impetus of the trip came from Israel. But the article reports that the Solomon Project organized the trip. (From what I can tell, the Solomon Project appears to be related to the NJDC. It’s not just because Ira Forman is involved with both organizations. The Solomon Project’s analysis of the 2004 Jewish vote was done, in part, by Stanley Greenberg’s polling firm.)
Ira Forman and the NJDC have a problem. Even as they promote the essentially Democratic nature of the Jewish electorate, and claim that support for Israel is bi-partisan, the Democratic electorate is markedly less pro-Israel than is the Republican electorate. (h/t Mere Rhetoric)
The Democrats seem to be far less supportive of Israel than Republicans. The margin is significant – 20% (84% GOP, 64% Dem. Note that they dislike Iran and the Palestinian Authority in similar numbers). And one can argue that 64% is still very nice, a clear and unshakable majority. But imagine this: If Democrats would have been as favorable of Israel as Republicans, Israel would have been at the top of the list, second only to Canada and Britain. And here is another such nugget: “Younger adults are also more likely than those 55 and older to have favorable views of” Egypt, the Palestinian Authority, Iran. They are less likely to have favorable view of Israel.
So perhaps Forman is correct to try and convince more blog reading Democrats that they ought to support Israel. I agree with the skeptics, but at least he’s trying to make a difference.
If nothing else, it serves to remind the public that not every Democrat is likely to seek out Khaled Meshaal like a certain ex-President is reported to be interested in.
The Other McCain writes (via memeorandum)
It’s impossible to find words strong enough to denounce this move by Carter. It demonstrates his indifference to who Hamas is and what Hamas does. Hamas is is an organization dedicated to the annihilation of Israel. It exists for one purpose and one purpose only: To kill Jews.
Crossposted on Soccer Dad.
Soccer Dad – Thanks for the link to the TMV post. As a Democrat who loves Israel but is not nearly as hawkish as most of the Jews I know, it is incredibly difficult to write about Israel the way I like to without the center-left and progressive folks with whom I usually banter in the blogs not calling me a neo-con. Frankly, I don’t even know what to make of it.
Maybe that’s why TMV suits me well but I’m an avid follower of several of many staunchly pro-Israel sites that I would say are to the right of me, because I learn so much and because, well – I’m a moving target for what I believe about the Middle East.
I won’t go on here – this topic is fodder for a lifelong blog itself. Obviously.
I was only writing that from my experience as a Democrat who tries to express passion and criticism for Israel, I know I have not mastered that but there are many in the blogs who actually have no tolerance to even read such combinations of feelings.
Last thing – I agree wih you about the Solomon Project appearing to be the initiator. Thanks for noting that and Ira Forman’s work at NJDC – I noticed that too when I first read the piece.
I give Carter credit for honesty here, if nothing else. In his book he openly said that terrorist activities against Israel were justifiable. Later he hauled out the usual “out of context” line. Which reminds me of the outfielder Jose Cardenal, who once complained that he was quoted “in context.” “They should write what I meant,” he said, “not what i said.”
The high point…if “high” is the word…of Carter’s book was recalling how he went to Israel not long after the near catastrophe of the War of Atonement and lectured Golda Meir on how the sins of the Jews were the cause of all their problems. That Golda didn’t hit him over the head is a testament to her patience.
There seem to be a lot of people around nowadays who are copacetic with the idea of renewed mass murder of Jews and the destruction of Israel. Conversely the sight of armed Jews defending themselves against genocide seems to make an awful lot of people nervous, even hysterical. I can only wonder why.